Scream Original Star the Actor Is Anxious He Could Spoil the Franchise with Scream 7.

The highly anticipated slasher sequel Scream 7 is scheduled to debut in theaters next year, and it is preparing for a massive family reunion. This latest installment signals the legendary return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, after sitting out the last entry. She will, per tradition, be alongside Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they aren't the only beloved characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a character you portrayed in your mid-20s when you're in your fifties was a daunting task that kept me up at night," Lillard reveals.

An Unexpected Comeback for Fallen Characters

It has been established that a trio of different characters from earlier films are slated to reappear in this latest sequel, even though dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Fans should get ready for the return of the endearing and nearly unkillable cop Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 antagonist Roman Bridger, and a member of the first film's murderous duo, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Legendary Status

For Matthew Lillard, reprising his role in the franchise for the first time since a small appearance is a dream come true, even if he is apprehensive about the audience response. The performer clearly remembers the precise instant he received the offer from the original writer.

"I remember the phone call. I recall the small talk. I recall him posing the question. That instance is permanently etched on my psyche," he states. "So I'm really proud to be back. I'm thrilled to be back."

Stu Macher has attained iconic status in the decades since the 1996 movie was released, which left Lillard feeling quite trepidatious.

"Truthfully, that's a role that lives in infamy, for better or worse," he notes. "A part that is now represented in every single Scream mask that walks around every October 31st."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fandom

Now that production has wrapped, Lillard is in the same position as everyone else to see the final product. He confesses to feeling significant anxiety about hoping not to be the one who ruins the beloved franchise.

"It's either a hit and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a miss," Lillard observes. "Going into it, I don't know if the film will be successful. I am unsure if people are eager to see me. I've definitely seen plenty of people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they going back to this trope?' So the truth is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the franchise. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and thinking, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the reason.'"

Theories and Excitement Abound

While countless longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others return persists. Perhaps they live rent-free in Sidney's consciousness, like a previous plot device. Alternatively, perhaps they are in some way all alive in a bizarre communal situation. The possibility of a meta-horror narrative, inspired by classic horror movies, also exists.

Moviegoers will discover the answer when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.